M4.5 Earthquake 120 km NNE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea — October 31, 2022
2022-10-31 21:50:23 UTC (2022-10-31) · approx. 7:50 AM UTC+10 local
On October 31, 2022 at 21:50 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 120 km NNE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 161.4 km and coordinates -5.5631°, 148.2847°. This earthquake was detected by 19 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Papua New Guinea, a region characterized by the collision and subduction of the Pacific, Australian, and Solomon Sea plates. View all earthquakes in Papua New Guinea.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
148.2847°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 120 km NNE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea on October 31, 2022 at 21:50 UTC had a depth of 161.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.5631°, 148.2847°, which is 120 km NNE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea. View all earthquakes in Papua New Guinea.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Papua New Guinea had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Papua New Guinea was the M8.0 New Britain earthquake of July 18, 1971. Today's magnitude 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000imi2). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 31, 2022). M4.5 Earthquake 120 km NNE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea — October 31, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000imi2/